Once they left the small-world rift, the air outside turned foul and murky. It was like entering an ancient battlefield where corpses lay buried, thick with endless rust and pestilence.
Worse, waves of invisible radiation faintly stung his mind.
They had barely approached the Guardian Barrier at the foot of the mountain when a patrol of armored Martial Warriors from the Military Department hurried toward them.
Judging by their auras, every one of them was at least at the Eighth-Rank Dark Force level.
That made sense.
Fierce winds raged here, and the air carried the foul reek of blood and Baleful Intent. Without Internal Force to protect them, ordinary people would likely suffer respiratory failure before long.
"Lord Xu, please show your entry authorization!"
The Military Department Martial Warrior leading the patrol clearly recognized Xu Ling, a steward of the Mending Heaven Pavilion, but he still blocked their path with a solemn expression.
Xu Ling did not take offense. He flicked his sleeve.
A pale-blue projected screen appeared again.
It was a pass issued by the Military Department.
Su Xinghe examined it closely.
It bore a transfer order from the Demon Suppression Bureau and the Military Department's reply. Judging by the submission date and approval mark, it had only been approved yesterday.
Submitted after this year's holiday, approved only at the end of March.
So someone in the Military Department had been holding me back too.
Why had they let me out now, then?
The patrol leader took out a tablet projector of his own. After checking the documents, he cupped his fists toward Xu Ling.
"Please proceed, Lord Xu!"
Then he turned, his sharp gaze settling on Su Xinghe.
"Where's your Martial Dao Bureau identity token?"
"My Martial Dao Bureau token..."
Su Xinghe froze.
Fortunately, he had not